Never before in Pep Guardiola’s 16-year career as a manager has he experienced losing five games in a row, including Barcelona and Bayern Munich. – He has won the Champions League three times (Premier League six times, Bundesliga and La Liga three times) and is not fond of losing.
After Saturday’s 4-0 defeat to Tottenham on Saturday at home at the Etihad Stadium, things became even clearer for the normally successful manager.
One thing is for sure, the transfer market this winter is going to be taken much more seriously by the sky blues than the transfer market this summer where they arrogantly thought the success would continue anyway.
Read: United bid to swap Zirkzee for one of the Premier League’s best midfielders last season
Manchester City could go head-to-head with one of their fiercest rivals for a player in the transfer market.
Tottenham Hotspur overwhelmed City by beating the champions 4-0. – Which means they have lost five times in a row in all competitions for the first time since 2006. The defeat has left City behind Premier League leaders Liverpool by five points, and Arne Slot’s club have a game in hand that they play this afternoon at St. Mary’s Stadium against Southampton.
The defeat has raised the question of what reinforcements City may need to bring in, and a new name has now emerged that would see them duel with their biggest rival.
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Manchester United return to action this afternoon in the first game for new boss Ruben Amorim when the Reds travel to face Ipswich Town at Portman Road.
United have appointed former Sporting boss Amorim after sacking Erik ten Hag and Ruud van Nistelrooy’s interim tenure in charge. Manchester United have struggled to score goals so far this season, and people have naturally linked to the fact that the Old Trafford club could well make a move for prolific Sporting striker Viktor Gyokeres.
Amorim cooled any speculation in his first press conference as United boss for the forward, saying: “Viktor Gyokeres is a Sporting player.
“He’s got a game tonight [Friday] and I hope he plays well, doesn’t get injured and continues to succeed in Sporting.”
But United could face competition from City for their signature next summer.
The Swedish striker a €75 million release clause in his Sporting contract, with which United hope the arrival of Amorim will help convince the Swedish international to Old Trafford.
But the newspaper also claims that Hugo Viana will move to City next summer to become the club’s new director of football, and that the two Manchester clubs could compete for his signature.